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• Section 780.18(b) Continued. <br />As further documented in Section 816.112, the exotic species included <br />in the Kerr Mine Area mixture have a long history of evaluation and <br />testing for erosion control, forage production and permanency. As <br />demonstrated in these research studies, the exotic species are <br />superior to most of the native species for controlling erosion. This <br />is the primary reason certain exotic species have been included in <br />the rangeland seed mixture. <br />The amount of each mixture to be planted will be 60 pounds per acre <br />for the cereal grain species, 10.75 pounds per acre for the Kerr Mine <br />Area mixture, and 22.89 pounds per acre for the Kerr Tipple Area <br />mixture. These amounts are more than adequate for critical area <br />stabilization. Cook, et. al. (1974) recommended that seeding rates <br />for disturbed areas should be 15 to 20 grass seeds per square foot. <br />While the 10.75 pounds per acre figure may appear somewhat low, it is <br />approximately ten times higher than the rate recommended by Cook. <br />The higher seeding rate will produce more immediate stabilization of <br />an effective soil cover for all areas to be reclaimed. <br />The composition of the proposed seed mixtures contains more than <br />ample diversity for successful seeding establishment. The proposed <br />Kerr Tipple Area mixture should effectively duplicate vegetation <br />found on this site prior to mining, as indicated by comparison with <br />the discussion under Section 779.19. The proposed Kerr Mine Area <br />mixture contains species encountered in the existing plant <br />communities found in the Kerr Mine Area. Both mixtures have been <br />prepared by including species into both mixtures that are encountered <br />on the permit area or have been successfully established on disturbed <br />areas near the Kerr Coal Permit Area. Both mixtures contain a larger <br />number of species than are naturally encountered on a given site. <br />The inclusion of a diverse mixture for planting on both sites is <br />based upon the assumption that environmental factors are <br />780-76 aR Revised -October, 1990 <br />